The Great Influenza

Much of the influenza pandemic of 1918 is unknowable. For instance, it is not possible to prove that the virus went from Haskell County to Camp Funston. However, “the circumstantial evidence is strong,” as at least three men left Haskell while the virus was raging and went to Camp Funston, where the virus broke out in March 1918 (170). Regardless, the virus that hit Camp Funston and then spread to other camps across the country did not seem like anything to worry about, as only in Haskell County were there severe cases. What worried the army was that the disease was being moved from camp to camp at all.

Researchers have tried to look into other sources for the pandemic but come up empty. The virus arrived in France in April and was spread to the British army by May, but the cases there were all mild. The only real worry was that the virus limited soldiers’ ability to fight for a couple weeks. The German army proved that fear warranted, as it is likely that a German offensive was halted due to influenza in the ranks. Interestingly, all the warring nations had press bans like the United States did, meaning the cases of influenza in the soldiers were not reported.